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“Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer too, I’m half crazy, All for the love of you~♪”

Coppelia hummed a cheerful tune that somehow carried an undertone of madness, as she walked lightly ahead of us. Her back was completely relaxed, as if she were enjoying a family picnic, showing no signs of caution.

On our end, we carried our weapons and remained on high alert, with Vier, the Sirius rivaling an SS-class magical beast, accompanying us. Yet, despite all this, Coppelia showed no signs of caution or concern, leaving us to wonder whether she trusted us that much or was simply confident that nothing could go wrong… It was hard to tell.

We proceeded down a corridor—or rather, a long, narrow room resembling a laboratory. The room was cluttered with emerald tablets, boiling flasks filled with sulfur and mercury, magical circles drawn on the floor, lamps, scales, hourglasses, and various mysterious tools commonly associated with alchemy, such as ‘Philosopher’s Eggs’ and ‘Alchemical Crucibles.’ The space was so packed that there was hardly any room to walk, forcing us to carefully weave our way through the narrow paths between the scattered items.

As we moved forward, Eren, who was following closely behind, whispered in a low, uneasy voice as she observed our surroundings.

“This place feels a lot like the magic experimentation building in the manor, but it’s even more… unsettling.”

The walls were lined with stuffed animals and magical creatures, jars filled with preserved organs, eyeballs, severed heads, beakers emitting ominous, vibrantly colored smoke, alchemical crucibles containing homunculi, and cages housing chimeras—likely the result of combining different magical creatures.

“…This is definitely the workshop of someone whose profession starts with an M.”¹

And no, we’re not talking about a manga artist, masseuse, or maiko.

Despite the fact that we had naturally followed her into this place, the sheer unpleasantness of the surroundings made me question whether we would encounter someone here who could be reasoned with. Internally, I raised my level of caution by two notches.

Just in case, I discreetly placed talismans in inconspicuous spots, such as under the desk or in the gaps between various specimens. These are just slips of paper that emit almost no mana, so they’re unlikely to be discovered. However, in a pinch, they’re designed to react to even the slightest mana wave and explode like landmines.

Although these talismans don’t have much destructive power, they could serve as a diversion or create a smokescreen when necessary.

After being led around, we were finally shown into a small room. Though it still had shelves filled with experimental equipment, it also contained a few chairs, desks, and bookshelves, giving it a slight air of being lived in.

“Please, please, have a seat! I’ll prepare some delicious tea right away!”

At the back of the room, a large pipe organ was installed, giving the place a slight resemblance to a chapel. There’s a saying that “alchemy is music,” so the organ likely has some magical significance as well. (I can play the piano and violin to a degree befitting a noble, though my skill is just enough to be passable in polite company.)

Following her suggestion, Eren and I sat down at a plain wooden table and chairs (while Vier sat on the floor nearby). Shortly afterward, Coppelia returned, pushing a cart laden with tea utensils.

“Thank you for waiting! The tea snacks are currently being bloodlet… I mean, prepared, so please wait a moment.”
““No, thank you! We’re quite full!!””

Upon hearing the ominous phrase, we quickly declined.

“Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped since the bile’s freshness is already fading a bit,” Coppelia didn’t seem to mind as she poured herbal tea into our teacups. Surprisingly, a rich aroma soon filled the room.

I cautiously reached for the cup that had been set before me, lifting it along with the saucer to take a sniff.

“…It smells like fruit.”
“Maybe something berry-like?”

Eren, still wary, tilted her head in thought.

“Oh, you’re sharp! This is a special fragrant tea made from surplus Batacutilius used in experiments,” Coppelia said, standing there with a pleased smile on her face.

“Batacutilius…? Well, at least it’s not poisonous,” I noted.

Hearing my words, Eren sighed in relief and brought the cup to her lips.

(Batacutilius, like black agate, is essential for necromancy, especially in reanimation rituals, but there’s no need to mention that. Some things are better left unknown.)

Just as I was trying to keep that detail to myself, Coppelia casually added, “Oh, and as a secret ingredient, there are ten castor seeds, a mandrake root, and five or six henbane leaves mixed in.”

Everything she listed was highly toxic, and the amounts she mentioned were lethal.

“—Guhahhh!!!”

I instantly spat out the tea I had been about to drink, coughing violently as I quickly snatched Eren’s cup away. Without a word, I used Poison Recovery with all my might on her.

Then, just to be safe, I cast it on myself as well.

“Wow, impressive! As expected of Lady Clara, your healing art is as sharp as ever. —But don’t you think you recovered a bit too quickly? Usually, you like to take your time with it,” Coppelia commented, seemingly unfazed.

“I don’t have the kind of twisted taste that enjoys poisoning myself for fun!” I shouted back in anger.

Coppelia responded with a puzzled look, blinking mechanically several times. Then her gaze shifted to Eren, who was still on edge after nearly being poisoned.

“Um, is she not the sacrifice for this time? To be offered as usual after lulling her into a false sense of security to break the seal?”
“What is that supposed to mean?! I don’t understand any of this! If you don’t give a proper explanation, I’ll consider you an enemy!!”

As I directed genuine hostility toward her, Coppelia blinked repeatedly.

“An explanation, after all this time…?”

She tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and then, after a short pause, seemed to realize something. She clapped her hands together as if she’d figured it out.

“Oh, I see. The backlash from your rejuvenation has caused issues in your memory region. According to my search results, this condition matches the so-called ‘senility’ symptom. In that case, I’ll start from the beginning and explain.”

“I’m not senile!!” I protested against Coppelia, who had come to a completely disrespectful conclusion on her own, but she casually brushed it off with a, “Anyone with that symptom says so,” which only added to my stress.

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The person who peeked out at us was a girl of about fifteen, with shoulder-length orange hair. She had a cute face and was wearing a naive, innocent smile like a small animal. Her outfit was…

“A maid?”

She wore a navy blue long-sleeved dress with a matching mini-skirt, an apron with lace detailing on the chest, a white headpiece, and a red ribbon tie. The design seemed more focused on appearance than practicality, but there was no doubt it was a maid uniform.

“Why would there be a maid in a place like this…?”

Eren, gripping her spear more tightly, looked at the mysterious maid with obvious suspicion. Though her reaction was understandable, she seemed to have temporarily set aside her own identity as a maid after stuffing her soiled uniform into a bag.

“Hmm?”

Meanwhile, the unknown maid, half-exposed from behind the door, scanned our faces one by one with a slightly puzzled expression. When her eyes landed on me, they suddenly widened in surprise. Without any hesitation, she threw open the door and exclaimed loudly.

“Oh my! It’s been so long, Lady Clara! I’ve missed you! You’re as beautiful as ever, and I’m so glad to see you looking well!”

With a beaming smile, she snapped to attention and saluted with precision.

“Wh-what!?”

I couldn’t help but let out a bewildered cry. While I’ve grown accustomed to being mistaken for my mother, I’m still taken aback at times—especially in this case. Who on earth was my mother, that she would have had connections with such a mysterious maid?

Setting aside those thoughts, I figured it was best to correct this misunderstanding immediately.

“Um, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not Clara—”

I began to explain, but the maid suddenly clapped her hands together as if something had dawned on her.

“Ah, yes, of course! It’s been more than twenty years since then, hasn’t it? But Lady Clara, your appearance hasn’t changed at all—no, in fact, you’ve become even younger and more beautiful. Which means…”

The maid nodded repeatedly as if she completely understood and then spoke in a knowing tone.

“Ah, Lady Clara, so you’ve finally given up your humanity. Congratulations!”

She spread her arms wide, as if welcoming me to her crazy world.²

“I have not given up my humanity!” How did she even reach that conclusion!? And more importantly… “From what you’re saying, it sounds like you’ve been here for over twenty years, right? Who exactly are you?”

She looked like a girl in her mid-teens, but if her words were true, she must be much older.

“Hmm? Why are you asking? It’s me, Coppelia, the automaton who’s the assistant and janitor of this laboratory.”
“An automaton!?”

I’ve never seen such a lifelike, indistinguishable-from-human automaton, not even in the academy’s alchemy department. Stunned, I stared intently at the girl who called herself Coppelia. Eren tugged on my sleeve.

“Um, Lady Jill, what exactly is an automaton?”
“Oh, well… It’s like an incredibly intricate marionette, I suppose. Normally, they can only perform tasks like playing the piano or writing letters…”

“Hmph! Don’t lump me in with such toys. My skeleton is made of orichalcum, my brain is powered by a philosopher’s stone, and my heart is a dragon gem. In theory, I’m a perfect maid who can operate indefinitely without maintenance,” she declared proudly, her chest puffed out with confidence.

‘Even if it’s maintenance-free, if there’s a software issue, that could be a problem… Actually, isn’t it a defect if she can’t even tell the difference between me and my mother?’ I thought, but decided to play along for now.

“So, beyond this point, there’s an alchemy laboratory, correct?”
“That’s right. Though alchemy is just one of the areas of research. As Lady Clara knows, the true research goal is immortality.”
“…Immortality?”

I couldn’t help but let out a groan. Immortality has been the eternal desire of rulers and women since ancient times, but in this world, if you don’t mind the methods—such as sacrificing large numbers of people to absorb their life force or merging with demons to become a magical creature—it’s somewhat achievable. However, because of this, it’s a forbidden, taboo subject in every country.

This wasn’t a topic I could brush off lightly.

“Master is still unable to leave the other side of the seal, but I’ve been terribly bored lately due to that brainless beast upstairs. I’d love to hear some news from the outside world after so long, so please, come in, don’t be shy.”

Coppelia seemed to have completely lowered her guard, opening the door to the ‘laboratory’ wide and beckoning us inside.

After exchanging glances with Eren and Vier, I decided to take advantage of her misunderstanding and allow myself to be invited in as ‘Clara.’

Judging by her appearance, Coppelia didn’t seem to have much combat ability, so even I, let alone Vier, could likely subdue her if it came to that.

“I see. Well then, I’ll take you up on that. Also, we might have another person joining us later.”
“Is that so? In that case, I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

Coppelia nodded without any sign of suspicion.

Well, I suppose it wouldn’t matter whether the door was locked or not if Bartholomew really wanted to come through. But it’s better than forcing our way in like robbers.

And so, we followed Coppelia through the door.

Author’s Note:

Coppelia’s name is as is (´・ω・`)

Basically, she’s not a homunculus, but a mechanical device with electric sparks running through her body.

By the way, she doesn’t have a conscience circuit or the Three Laws of Robotics.

Knocking etiquette is the same as in the modern day: two knocks for the bathroom, three knocks for close friends, and four knocks if it’s your first time visiting.

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Lying on Vier’s back, we stealthily made our way along the edges of the room, avoiding the clash between the Nue and Bartholomew as we headed toward the stairs leading to the next floor.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like one of those hellish scenarios where you can’t descend until you defeat the floor boss. Despite the intense tremors, blinding flashes of lightning, clashing magic circles, and resounding roars behind us, we managed to escape down a staircase about three or four mertes wide, leaving that chaos behind.

From a quick glance, it was clear that Bartholomew had the upper hand—or rather, he was practically toying with the ten-mertes monster without a scratch on him. As he pummeled it with his bare fists, he shouted, “Does it hurt? But this pain is nothing compared to the betrayal of the princess who trusted you!” It seemed like he could handle it on his own, so I decided it was safe to leave.

Just to be cautious, I left a note at the top of the stairs that read, “We’re heading down first. – Jill,” and we continued our descent.

For a while, the noise, vibrations, and falling dust made me anxious that the entire floor might collapse, but the structure seemed surprisingly sturdy. The stairs were also quite long—if I had to guess, they stretched over a hundred mertes in a zigzag pattern—so the commotion from the upper floor didn’t seem to reach us below a certain distance.

We descended for what felt like an eternity, but there didn’t appear to be any monsters on the stairs. Taking a brief rest at a landing, we prepared ourselves for the next floor.

First, I gently lowered the still-unconscious Eren from Vier’s back, propping her up with her knees bent and shoulders squared as I tried to wake her. Sometimes this method doesn’t work, but luckily, this time it did.

“—Huh!? Huhhh??? What? Where am I? Who is this place? …Lady Jill, how did we get her? We were just walking down a hallway…”

Eren, now awake, looked around in confusion, a big question mark practically hanging over her head.

It seemed that the events surrounding the boss room had been erased from her memory due to sheer terror. While it might not be ideal, it was probably better than her developing PTSD or having a panic attack. In a way, it was a relief.

After giving a vague explanation to Eren and letting her grasp the awful situation in her pants, I calmed her down as she cried out in confusion, “KYAAAH, NOOO!?” I handed her a set of spare clothes I had stored away (it wasn’t a maid outfit, just a simple dress), and since there was no one else around, we quickly stripped down, wiped ourselves clean with damp towels, and changed right there.

“Ahh… I feel like a new person,” I sighed contentedly. There’s something so refreshing about putting on new underwear.

Eren, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears as she bundled up her soiled clothes. “Ugh, I need to wash these in private; this is so humiliating.”

“Well, when we get back, we can just throw out these bad memories and replace them with new ones. If there’s anything else you want, don’t hesitate to ask since you’ve been through so much,” I consoled her while finishing my own change.

That said, my outfit had features like stretch adjustment, temperature control, auto-repair, and self-cleaning, so after a quick rinse and shake, it looked as good as new. I only had to change my undergarments before getting back into my original clothes.

Eren, flustered, responded, “Oh no! Just knowing you care means everything to me, Lady Jill. It should have been my duty as your maid to handle things better…”

“No, really. Not just with what happened this time, but having you here with me, Eren, makes me feel so much stronger. If I were alone, I don’t know how lonely I would have felt.” As I said that, Vier gently licked my cheek. “Hehe, that’s right. And I’ve got Vier too.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. Still, it’s been a while since we’ve gone on an adventure with just this group. If only that fool Bruno were here, half a loaf is still better than none.”

Eren, seemingly having regained some of her spirits, threw out that sarcastic remark.

“You’re right. We’ve come such a long way from home, haven’t we? When we can take a long break next, maybe we should all go back home through the Consul’s Teleporter.”
“We could?! I haven’t been back to the village in so long, I’ve been worried about how the little brats are doing.”
“It’s already been two years. Maybe Chad and Andy have even gotten married by now.”
“No way, those two? Not a chance.”

As we chatted about these trivial things, we slowly returned to our usual selves, and with our magic staff and spear in hand, we started descending the stairs once more.

♦♢♦

After descending about another fifty mertes from the landing, which felt much longer than it should have, we finally reached the end.

“A door?”

The staircase gradually narrowed as we went down, eventually becoming just two mertes wide. At the end of the stairs, we were met with a sturdy wooden door of the same width, blocking our way. It looked like the entrance to an ordinary mansion, complete with a doorknob and a brass knocker.

The situation was suspicious to the max, but there was no point in going back. We had to move forward to continue our journey. Taking a chance, I used the knocker to knock on the door.

Knock, knock, knock, knock!

Since it was our first time here, I followed proper manners and knocked four times. The sound echoed surprisingly loudly.

Then, we heard the light, quick footsteps of someone running on the other side of the door.

“Yes, yes, sorry to keep you waiting!”

With a slightly sweet, girlish voice, someone responded as the doorknob turned (it wasn’t locked?), and the door was opened.

“—who is it?”

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“I can’t say for sure, but the gnomes are telling me to go this way.”

When I glanced down at my feet, I saw tiny sprites, each about the size of a thumb, pointing in the same direction and saying, “This way, this way,” and “Other way leads nowhere.”

Given that we were surrounded by rocks, I’d been asking the gnomes to guide us toward an exit. However, since spirits generally don’t have a clear consciousness, I wasn’t entirely confident in their guidance… but they had successfully warned us of hidden traps and led us to resting spots, so I figured they were probably reliable.

With that, we continued through the passageway at a steady pace. But later, I would deeply regret not summoning other elemental spirits—especially water spirits—instead of letting my surroundings dictate my choices. Who knows, they might have revealed a different path.

♦♢♦

After walking for about two hours, taking breaks along the way, we finally reached a massive chamber that was completely different from the bland corridors we had been traversing. This colossal hall, which seemed to be around fifty mertes high and five hundred mertes across, was adorned with thick columns, arches, and intricate carvings.

The entrance to this chamber, although dwarfed by the room’s immense size, was still an imposing set of double doors made of stone, each about one merte wide, standing wide open.

“…It definitely looks like one of those situations where the doors slam shut after we enter, and then the boss shows up.”
“…It does.”

From where we stood at the entrance, we could just barely make out a summoning circle in the center of the room and, beyond it, a staircase leading downwards on the opposite side. The lavish carvings marking this obvious boss room, combined with the fact that the stairs led downward instead of up, filled me with unease.

I glanced at the others to gauge their reactions. Vier showed no sign of hesitation, sitting calmly and waiting for my instructions. Bartholomew, on the other hand, seemed oddly relaxed.

“Hmm, this room is quite to my liking. It reminds me of home,” he remarked, as if the place gave him a sense of comfort.

“…What should we do?” Eren asked, clearly bewildered. But by this point, there was no turning back (literally). I made my decision.

“We’re going in. I’m sorry, but Bartholomew, I’ll need you to take the lead. I’ll provide magical support as needed… although I doubt you’ll need it. Eren, keep your distance so you can retreat if necessary. Vier, protect Eren.”

“Understood, count on me!”
“Yes!”
“Woof! (Got it!)”

After confirming that everyone nodded firmly, I raised my staff and cast two spells: the support spell Water Cloak, which increases defense, and Life Clock, an original healing spell that temporarily boosts vitality. A blue membrane of light formed around our bodies, and I felt our steps lighten. Without a word, we exchanged nods and stepped into the grand chamber.

As our footsteps echoed through the silent chamber, we took a few steps towards the center of the room. As expected, the entrance doors slammed shut with a thunderous noise. Immediately, red flames burst to life in the candelabras mounted on the stone pillars, illuminating the room brightly.

“—It’s coming!” Bartholomew, wielding his massive black halberd, gave a brief warning, seemingly eager. At that moment, the summoning circle in the center began to glow, and lightning-like flashes shot out from it like snakes raising their heads. The bolts collided in mid-air, expanding and brightening until they began to take the shape of a massive creature.

In the few seconds that I instinctively turned my face away from the intense light, a grotesque, gigantic beast over ten mertes in length appeared in the center of the hall, which was fifty mertes high. This monstrosity, a blend of a bear, a baboon, and a tiger, with wings sprouting from its back, let out a roar that shook us to our cores.

“—!”

Although we had braced ourselves, the pressure emanating from the beast was overwhelming. This might even surpass Maya and Bartholomew…

I quickly glanced at my companions. Vier had spread her limbs and wings, ready for battle, while Eren, who was sheltered behind her, held her spear with a pale face, yet remained determined to stay. As for Bartholomew…

“Thunder Beast Nue—a being from the Crimson Empire…!!” he exclaimed in shock at the sight of the creature.

“…someone from your homeland?”
“Yes… quite young, still unrecognized by the princess…”

Bartholomew’s groaning response caused me to look up at the Nue hovering in the air. Unlike Bartholomew, who possessed a rational mind, this creature, constantly emitting a thunderous growl and drooling from its mouth, seemed to be of a different nature altogether.

“………”
“………”

It appeared that some sort of conversation had taken place. Bartholomew and the Nue stood silently facing each other for a moment, but then something seemed to change. I sensed an unmistakably aggressive roar escaping from Nue’s mouth.

“…Bartholo…mew?”
“You care not for my duty to guard… you possess no intention of returning to the homeland… and you claim that loyalty to the princess means nothing…”

Bartholomew’s voice was oddly calm, but I could hear the sound of the space around him cracking under the immense pressure of his barely contained rage.

“—Killing the occasional human who comes here feels good. I want to stay here forever… eating the flesh of terrified humans is delicious, YOU SAY?!!!”

Bartholomew’s ghostly eyes blazed with fury, and the trembling hand gripping his halberd drove its butt into the floor, causing radial cracks to spread across it.

“—Kyaaaaah!!”

The surge of magical power and the overwhelming aura that erupted from Bartholomew shook the air as if it had exploded. The force was so intense that it sent me flying several mertes from where I stood, my limbs nearly shattered by the impact.

“Forgetting the pride of being a citizen of the glorious Crimson Empire, discarding your loyalty to the princess, and degrading yourself into a filthy monster— unforgivable! Even if no one else judges you, I will do so here and now!”
“Bartholomew—N-No! If you unleash such reckless power here, the dungeon will collapse!”

But Bartholomew’s rage was unstoppable, and my words didn’t reach him. He closed the distance between himself and the Nue, raising his halberd high before charging forward.

“Perish, you fool! I am a palace knight of the glorious Crimson Empire, blessed by the princess with the divine name of ██! Engrave this name upon your soul, and consider it a final mercy to be sent to the afterlife by me!”

In response, the Nue let out a roar, and a magic circle formed in the air, unleashing a barrage of lightning strikes. Bartholomew’s dark halberd met the attack head-on, and as they collided in midair, a brief struggle ensued before a massive explosion filled the hall.

“…A-Are you okay, Eren, Vier…?”

Keeping low to the ground to avoid the shockwave, I crawled towards them, relying on their presence and the flow of magical energy. I found Vier trembling, her ears flattened, seemingly terrified by the overwhelming force and demonic aura Bartholomew had unleashed. Behind her, Eren had fainted and was lying on the floor, eyes rolled back.

…there seemed to be a warm puddle under her, but I decided to pretend I hadn’t noticed.

“It looks like we could easily die here if we stay, so we should probably evacuate to the next floor while we can… Vier, could you carry Eren on your back to the stairs on the opposite side?”

In the sky above, the intense flashes of light, magic circles, and bolts of lightning continued to fly about. The sheer force of the residual magic was enough to make someone like me disappear in an instant. I instinctively understood that this was no place for us and decided on an immediate retreat.

Vier, understanding the situation, gently grabbed the unconscious Eren—who was likely better off not waking up at this point—and placed her on her back. She then turned to me, urging me to climb on as well.

“I—I’m fine, I’ll manage somehow.”

I tried to tough it out, using my staff for support as I stood up. But noticing how awkward it was to walk, I hesitantly checked my own condition—and then buried my face in my hands.

“…Sorry, Vier. I’ll need your help too.”

Vier nodded, effortlessly lifting me onto her back as well.

As I supported the unconscious Eren, I thought to myself that once we made it to the next floor, I’d need to get some fresh underwear for both of us…

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Three Fang Mice, each about the size of a medium dog, emerged from the darkness, brandishing their enormous fangs as they attacked.

Normally, cave-dwelling creatures would flee from the light, but these were clearly magical beasts. Undeterred, they charged straight into the radiant glow of the Light spell.

“「O stream, become a blade and cut through the enemy before me」—「Aqua Ripper」!”

I quickly chanted the spell, converting the magic essence in the air to stabilize it into the form of ‘water.’ A water blade about one meter long appeared in my right hand.

“—hiss!”

I slashed the ‘Fang Mouse’ that leaped at me head-on and then twisted my wrist to slice through the second one that lunged at my waist.

The last remaining one dodged the water blade and charged towards Eren, who was behind me. I caught sight of this out of the corner of my eye and instinctively tried to turn and strike with my blade.

“Take this—hiyaah!”

With an ungraceful shout, Eren swung her spear down at the ‘Fang Mouse’ aiming for her feet.

Her aim was true, and she struck the rat’s body. However, due to her lack of weight and strength, it wasn’t a fatal blow.

“Haa—!”

Even so, stopping its movement for even a moment was good enough. As I spun around, I extended the water blade and sliced the fang mouse’s neck at an angle.

The beast’s head and body separated cleanly. If this were a real sword, the scene would have been quite gruesome. However, the water blade, with its laser-like sharpness, also had a cleansing effect that repelled blood and dirt upon cutting, leaving a clean, pink cross-section as the ‘Fang Mouse’ fell apart like in a manga.

“Phew…”

Having dealt with the immediate threat, Eren and I both let out a sigh of relief.

“Ahahaha! Bravo, well done! Lady Jill’s magic sword is perfectly suited to controlling both her physical strength and her range. Yes, yes, very well thought out. And Lady Eren, your reactions to the enemy’s movements are impressive, showing that you’ve clearly trained under a skilled teacher. However, if I were to point out a flaw, it would be that both of you seem to lack stamina and endurance. You should focus on building up your basic physical strength!”

As we stood there, Bartholomew, who had been waiting behind us, delivered his usual grandiose lecture with his characteristic over-the-top attitude and tone.

To be blunt, it’s incredibly annoying.

—I should never have summoned him. I really shouldn’t have.

I deeply regret it, but there’s no undoing what’s been done. Ignoring him, I pointed the tip of my water blade at the spear Eren had just pulled out of the Fanged Mouse’s body. Using a technique mimicking water jet, I rinsed off the blood and grime, confirming it was clean before giving my right hand a small flick to dissipate the watery sword.

Once the spell was deactivated, the water blade vanished as if by magic—well, it actually was magic—without leaving so much as a single puddle behind.

This efficiency in spellcasting was thanks to my special lessons with the Headmistress. I can now conjure elements like water and fire with precise control, such as ‘burning only the top sheet of a stack of documents.’ This level of finesse wasn’t possible before.

Typically, magic and spellcraft (to avoid a lengthy explanation, just think of magic as relying on innate talent, while spellcraft achieves similar effects through rituals or procedures) emphasize power and impact, and this kind of delicate manipulation is often overlooked. But for me, it’s a significant advantage.

For instance, I can detect blood flow and bodily fluids within a person, focusing healing on areas where abnormalities are found. I can even selectively target and destroy small cancer cells without surgery (not that the concept exists here), which has dramatically expanded the scope of my healing abilities.

“This is amazing! I never thought of using magic like this—it’s a real eye-opener. In terms of healing efficiency, you might even surpass Snow. That girl usually just brute forces everything with her massive magic power, so she can’t apply it as flexibly. Hey, Jill, how about doing some medical work on the side through my connections? You could probably charge something like a thousand gold coins and get away with it.”

The one who praised this during the special lesson, after I demonstrated it on an animal, was none other than Headmistress Mei.

I almost wanted to quip, “Do you take me for an unlicensed back-alley doctor?!” (though, in reality, there’s no licensing system for medical practices here)—but setting that aside, I think she’s overestimating me a bit. After all, the person she’s comparing me to is the legendary Saintess said to have the power to revive even the dead. Someone like me could never…

Just as I had that thought, something tugged at a chord deep within my mind, and I found myself tilting my head in confusion.

“Revive… the dead?”

“Lady Jill?” While I was lost in thought, Eren had efficiently begun dissecting the fanged mice with her hunting knife, extracting the small magic stones within. Noticing my contemplative state, she furrowed her brows in concern.

“Oh, sorry. I was just distracted, trying to recall something that’s on the tip of my mind but won’t come back to me. Thank you for collecting the magic stones.”
“It’s nothing. I used to occasionally butcher the horned rabbits we caught back in the village, so I’m used to it. Also, what should we do with the meat and hides?”
“Let’s see. There shouldn’t be any poison, so I’ll put them in storage just in case.”

You can never have too much food in an emergency.

I used spatial magic, Close Art, on the corpses of the three fanged mice and their magic stones—though I regularly stash away quite a bit, I’ve fortunately never encountered any limits to this art so far. With my resolve renewed, I resumed my position at the front and began walking down the passageway again.

“Still, what exactly is this place? Gray caves, corridors, and small rooms… all we’ve encountered are rats like those or oversized bats and other monsters. Could this be one of those Dungeons?”

Eren, walking just behind me, complained wearily, gazing at the monotonous stone walls and ceiling.

Incidentally, the cave walls have phosphorescent rocks placed about every five mertes apart, but sometimes there are side passages or branches between the light sources, where monsters like the ones we encountered earlier can jump out. To be safe, I split the light from my Light spell into two orbs, one floating above my head and the other hovering slightly ahead to illuminate the path forward.

“Hmm… This is likely a dungeon created by local monsters. However, given that certain parts seem to have been subtly altered, it’s possible that someone else modified existing ruins or a subterranean tomb to create this place. But, I must say, it’s an utterly uninspired, cramped space, devoid of even the barest decorative elements. I, Bartholomew, though a warrior, am also a knight of the Crimson Empire’s palace and can appreciate a bit of humor. Whoever created this place must be a dull, narrow-minded, and petty individual. Truly, it’s a dreadful place.”

Bartholomew, walking behind us, was going on with a tone of barely contained frustration. Well, personal grievances aside, it’s clear that someone’s been here before us. The presence of phosphorescent rocks, branching paths, small rooms, and shoddy treasure chests (containing little more than old coins or rusty swords) all point to someone having tampered with this place.

“It’s best to get out of this depressing place as quickly as possible. So, Lady Jill, are you sure this is the right direction?” Bartholomew asked casually as he effortlessly obliterated an opus bat flying toward us with his halberd—though the resulting shockwave also cracked the ceiling and walls, threatening to cause a collapse.

Since he’d been smashing ceilings and walls as we progressed, our retreat was basically cut off, leaving Vier—who was supposed to guard the rear—walking beside Eren and me, ready to grab us and flee at a moment’s notice. Even when I voiced my concerns, Bartholomew just laughed it off, saying, “Isn’t this perfect? We don’t need to worry about what’s behind us. A true man always falls forward, even when defeated!” So, I gave up trying to change his mind.

Also, Bartholomew is the only man in our party, while Eren, Vier, and I are all biologically female, but there’s no point in correcting him on that.

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A glint of menace flashed from Cestlavie’s eyes for a moment, before—

“What’s that?!”

Prompted by someone’s urgent shout, Luke and Cestlavie snapped their attention towards the direction of the voice—the church’s main gate.

Everyone gathered in the courtyard, caught by the intense atmosphere, turned to look as well.

Soon, a massive ogre emerged from the dark forest and stepped into the brightly lit church grounds. It wore tattered clothing that looked like it had been soaked in water for a long time and a strange mask. The creature proudly displayed its enormous stature and the giant scythe it wielded as it leisurely walked forward.

The scene was so surreal that everyone present watched in stunned silence as the ogre approached the church’s barrier. Sparks flew vividly where its foot touched the ground, and the ogre, looking annoyed, retracted its step.

Though it felt like an eternity, only a few seconds had passed.

The barrier’s sparks snapping in the darkness broke the paralysis that had gripped everyone.

“Uwaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!” Barry, the student council president, screamed again, triggering another wave of panic.

“It’s Gus! The immortal ogre from Lake Quartz!”
“Nooooooo! I don’t want to die!”
“Help! Help! Mommy!”

The panic this time was even more overwhelming, spreading rapidly.

“Calm down! Everyone, calm down, you fools!”
“Prioritize evacuating the women! Those who can fight, grab weapons!”

Even Lieselotte’s reprimands and Viola’s encouragement barely reached the frenzied crowd.

“Damn it! The faint traces of mana are useless in this chaos!”
“Move! Please move aside!”

Pressed by the flood of students and personnel desperately seeking refuge inside the church, Luke and Cestlavie found it impossible to stay put or grab weapons to fight. They clicked their tongues in frustration, struggling to manage the frantic flow of people.

♦♢♦

At the same time, in the commercial district of the capital city of Cilento Central Nation in the Livitium Imperial Kingdom, a girl with short violet hair was letting out a strange cry in front of a small general store situated on a street lined with relatively cramped shops.

“What do you mean a company trip, in this timing?!”

Illuminated by a magical flame in her palm, the front of the store had an unexpected notice written with flowing brush strokes.

“What’s with this spy-esque contact method?!”

The girl, frustrated by the excessively convoluted and impractical instructions, impulsively threw the ball of flame in her hand. The notice caught fire, seemingly on the verge of causing a blaze. However, the fire burned only the notice, not even leaving a scorch mark on the building, showing an incredible level of control.

The girl took several deep breaths, her anger not yet fully subsided, but soon regained her composure and held her head in her hands.

“Uggghhhh… I’ve got the news from my familiar, but it will take a whole day for the academy’s rescue team to arrive on the scene. I wanted to go with them just in case, but…”

If only she knew this would happen, she really should’ve gone through with preparing an additional guard.

“I can’t go there directly myself, after all…” she sighed again. This was Mei Iroha, the principal of the Livitium Imperial Academy, whose overwhelming magical power was said to rival the entire military might of the Graviol Empire. Due to the fear of her abilities, various nations had requested that she could not enter other countries without an invitation from the receiving country or approval from the Empire, making her situation quite complicated.

“If anything happens to Jill, you’re the one I’m blaming~~!”

A mournful, eerie moan filled with vengeful resentment echoed in front of the vacant general store.

♦♢♦

At the same time.

Due to the time zone difference, it was still midday at a seaside resort in the Kingdom of Tristis, a small tropical country on the westernmost peninsula of the continent. A mysterious peddler grilling seafood yakisoba on a teppan at a food stall suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, prompting him to open his narrow eyes.

“…I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he muttered, glancing back over his shoulder toward the distant Livitium Imperial Kingdom.

Just then, an employee, a white cat beastman named Chaton, who wore only a swimsuit and an apron, walked over with an order slip, looking as unmotivated as usual.

“Boss, we’ve got an additional order. Two Poseidon bowls and two stir-fried Titan meat.”
“Alright, got it. Once this is ready, you can take your lunch break, Chaton.”
“Understood.”

Chaton nodded but then tilted her head in a lackadaisical manner.

“By the way, this is supposed to be a company trip, right? So why are we working at a beach shack?”
“Well, that’s because we don’t have travel expenses. We have to earn our keep for tonight’s lodging and food.”
“Uh-huh…”

Chaton nodded again, seemingly understanding but also not.

“Well, since we’re at the beach, we might as well enjoy ourselves a little,” he said, laughing cheerfully.

Little did he know, upon their return to the capital, he would face the irrational wrath of Headmistress Mei.

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In Front of the St. Campbell Church, Belonging to the Saintess Faith—

“I can’t take this anymore! I’m going back home!” Barry Carter, the student council president, finally reached his breaking point and screamed.

The approaching army of the undead. The hectic nighttime escape. And as soon as they rushed into the church, which was supposed to be a safe haven, a flash of light caused a female student (along with her maid and pet) to disappear.

The string of abnormal events had finally snapped his mental stability. His outburst triggered a panic among the student council executives—pampered sons of nobles, high officials, and wealthy merchants—who began to lose control and started shouting as well.

“Are you kidding me? Do you know who I am? All of you should protect me!”
“This has to be a joke, right? There’s no way this is real. Whoever set this up, come out now!”
“Wh-Wh-What? They disappeared? Seriously? No way! Uwaaaah!”
“What the hell is this? What the hell is going on?!”

Teachers, instructors, and church staff desperately tried to calm them down, but once panic set in, it was hard to quell. People were yelling, trying to escape, or attempting to bribe the adventurer guards, turning the front yard of the St. Campbell Church into a chaotic scene.

They were in the front yard because as soon as Jill and her group had opened the church door and entered, the floorboards and the chairs and desks lining the sides had all disappeared, deterring anyone else from following them inside.

The student council executives, who should have taken the lead in calming the chaos, were the first to fall apart. As a result, the general members and students didn’t know what to do and wandered around in confusion.

“Hmm, this is bad.”
“Indeed.”

Princess Viola and Princess Lieselotte furrowed their brows at the chaotic situation, where not only the student council members but also the teachers and church officials were becoming increasingly unruly.

Incidentally, Barry, the student council executive committee chairman who first incited the chaos, was muttering to himself while hugging his knees:

“…It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault. I should have been able to invite the prince from the Graviol Empire and the princess from Cilento Central Nation, extolling the virtues of the Eunice Theocracy here. By the time this tedious research study ended, I could have secured my future within my family. That way, my life after graduating from the academy would be set; I could have arranged an adoption with a noble family of decent status, or used this achievement to secure a higher rank in the church. Maybe, just maybe, I could have even gotten close to Princess Lieselotte, and then I’d never have to worry about my livelihood again. Why did it have to turn out like this? Someone explain it to me…”

“That’s a disgusting thing to say,” sighed Lieselotte, resigning herself to his uselessness.

“Honestly, I think the male students should handle things themselves, but if they’re going to make a scene right in front of me, scaring my cute kittens, then we should probably remove the eyesore,” Viola suggested, soothing the frightened female students gathered around her with sweet words, a gentle smile, and casual touches, while casting a cold glance at the pathetic male students.

“Indeed. It is also the duty of those in leadership,” Lieselotte said, shaking her head in exasperation. She lightly brushed aside her luxurious ringlets, stood tall, and confidently walked to the center of the front yard.

Her royal demeanor seemed to part the crowd naturally, forming a straight path for her.

Watching her back, Daniel and Elias nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, in times of crisis, it’s the girls who you can really count on, right?”
“Absolutely. Even in the same situation, I could never manage that.”

Lieselotte, hearing this, turned around with an exasperated look and scolded them.

“Don’t you two have any intention of being useful? At least help search for Jill!”

The two boys then glanced at Luke and Cestlavie, who were on all fours, desperately searching for clues about the missing Jill at the entrance of the church.

♦♢♦

“Have you found any clues…anything at all?”

Luke, who was examining the perfectly circular hole in the floor as if it had been scooped out with a spoon, called out to Cestlavie, who was investigating the opposite side in a similar manner.

“Nothing… but there are traces of unusual mana. Judging by the remnants evenly distributed along this circle, it’s reasonable to assume that there was an installed magic circle here, likely a trap designed to forcibly teleport anyone who stepped into it.”
“A trap?”

Luke glanced at the priests and nuns of the church who were watching their actions.

“No, no way! There’s no way something like that could be set up in the church.”
“If something like that had been here, it would have caused an uproar long ago!”

They all shook their heads in denial.

“It was probably not a constantly active type, but one that activated under specific conditions. Either that, or, although unlikely, it might have been a timed trap that they happened to get caught in.”

Cestlavie, still looking grumpy, raised his head and gave Luke an appraising look.

“Let me ask you something. Does she—Jill—have any unique traits that others don’t? I know she uses magic. But if that were all, many members of the church would fit the criteria, yet nothing like this has ever happened before. There must be another factor.”

“……” Extraordinary magical power, the ability to manipulate multiple elements, rare healing magic capable of purification, spirit magic, a familiar equivalent to an SS-class magical beast, a citizenship card from the Super Empire—there were too many factors to count.

“You won’t answer it lightly, do you? …then let me rephrase my question. This church is related to Lady Clara, as you know. And the anomaly happened right here. So, can I assume that she has something to do with Lady Clara?”

“――!” Luke, who had steeled himself to some extent, was still visibly shaken by the direct question.